You’re up for an authentic slice of West Coast living if ever you decide to travel up to the Namaqua West Coast. Doringbaai and Strandfontein are just two of the picturesque fishing villages you’ll discover here along the ‘bossieveld-see’ plains unfolding along the the Olifants River valley. And there's mountain biking on offer too, along [...]
Gravel biking is somewhat of a traveling circus, with riders trying to outdo each other when it comes to the coolness factor of their respective steeds. Everything is analyzed – from wheel size, tire tread and fork to bars – so a pedal to Great Brak will never end up being boring… Words and images: [...]
Great mountain biking trails. Big game viewing. Nine months of summer every year … you can do worse than saddling up your MTB in iSimangaliso, northern KZN’s ‘Place of Miracles and Wonders’. Copy and images: Jacques Marais iSimangaliso Local Buzz There is this magical place known as iSimangaliso, situated way up high on the KwaZulu-Natal [...]
Cape Point National Park is one of South Africa's most visited nature reserves. It is also a great place to visit by bike, with easy rides, along a network of tarred roads, providing a selection of meandering routes through the most southern tip of the Cape Peninsula. Copy and images: Jacques Marais Local Buzz: Cape [...]
The San roamed the high reaches of the southern Cederberg from more than 6,000 years ago, and one still very much gets a sense of their earthy spirituality amidst the dramatic sandstone outcrops gracing Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve. High-altitude fynbos and renosterveld plains add to the attraction of the Swartruggens Conservancy. Copy and images: Jacques [...]
Yup, we’ve all cruised the N7 bisecting those Knersvlakte plains en route to the Northern Cape, but have you ever turned off at Vanrhynsdorp to explore the high inland escarpment? Do it next time, my friend, but make sure you and your bike stop off at Brandkop Guest Farm to explore their trails. Copy and images [...]
That corner of the Oos-Kaap radiating outwards from ‘the world’s perfect wave’ rates as one of SA’s most underrated adventure destinations. The next time you come play in Kouga, you’d better pack your bike, backpack, and boots! Words & Photographs by Jacques Marais Local Buzz Khangela mfethu, Kouga is ‘n kief plek, no matter what [...]
The Edge of Wild: The Groot Winterhoek ranges, above Porterville, must surely rate as one of South Africa’s most under-utilised mountain biking destinations. This is about to change with the local Berg Rivier Tourism Region’s initiative, a ‘Wines to Wilderness’ Route. Copy and images by Jacques Marais Wines to Wilderness Local Buzz: Porterville comes across [...]
The breathtaking Wild Coast boasts truly epic riding, all the way from the scenic ‘tamer’ section that languishes down south near the muddy roil of the Great Kei River, all the way north to where it nudges up again KZN. Let’s just say it is a vast and exhilarating MTB playground. Words and Images by [...]
Ah man, what a jol you can have on the West Coast! In this month's MTB ROUTES Trail Blog, we give you the low-down on both the !Khwa ttu San Experience Trails, near Yzerfontein, and the new Living Colour Trail Adventure Centre, just up the road en route to Darling. Go give it gas! Photographs [...]
